Join the conversation on the news behind The Courier-News

March 2012 Archives


Does the biggest cheating scandal in American history, uncovered last year, have you worried teachers are cheating on student test scores in your schools?

That scandal was exposed in 2011, after The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's analyzed standardized test scores in Atlanta schools. That led to findings of widespread cheating in Atlanta schools and a state investigation in Georgia. Investigators then put the finger on about 180 teachers and administrators, some of whom confessed to altering test papers, according to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

This weekend, The Atlanta Journal Constitution did it again, collecting and analyzing standardized test scores not just for Atlanta schools, but for 69,000 public schools across the country. The whole thing is fascinating, and it uncovered test scores in hundreds of cities that followed a pattern that, in Atlanta, had indicated cheating in multiple schools.

You can search the newspaper's database of school districts' test-score shifts here, but I'm guessing there mostly are two school districts in whose results you are interested: Elgin School District U46 and Community Unit School District 300.

So should you be worried about your schools cheating on their standardized test scores? Find out, after the jump!


Thumbnail image for danahey2 copy.jpgNOTE: In a revival of this "classic" Friday feature, Courier-News reporter Mike Danahey guesses how much beer (or other beverage of choice) it might take him to pay money to see a recently-released movie. His opinions are based on trailers, ads and advance hype.

Here are some of the movies playing this weekend...21 Jump Street



A movie version/update of a silly late-80s TV show about cops who go undercover as high school students. It looks goofy enough that if I have enough beers one night I might rent if off Netflix. Heading out to the cineplex, not so much.

Beer rating: Much light beer. But that gives me a headache.


Jeff Who Lives At Home, Casa De Mi Padre, after the jump.

About this Archive

This page is an archive of entries from March 2012 listed from newest to oldest.

February 2012 is the previous archive.

May 2012 is the next archive.

Find recent content on the main index or look in the archives to find all content.